Does water make a difference?

[PoPo VanWinkle]

I'm a newbie and I tried to read everything on this site. There are a lot of factors obviously to consider in production of a quality end product. Interestingly, I don't really see much said hear about the use of water. I'm currently using distilled water or RO water. Would there be any difference if I used bottled spring water? Some of the Tennessee whiskey's promote "spring water" . Would the minerality found in spring water be better? Or might it interfere with the wash development?
Just curious if there is any opinion on this.

[still_stirrin]

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=36281

[bluefish_dist]

Water does matter. My well water worked really well, it was a lot harder than city water and I have to add back some of the minerals to get good ferments. Also starting ph was very different so adjustments were needed.

[Truckinbutch]

Lots of opinions over in that mandatory reading section . Questions you didn't even know you had are answered right there .
Before you get all bristly and pissed click on my name and scroll some of my first posts .
See for your self what a dick I could be when I came here and how I got my legs strapped for that .
There's a reason for rules posted here and requests to do required reading .
I'm still paying forward what was freely given to me in advance .
Hope you will take up residence as a neighbor .

[DWelsh]

Lots of opinions over in that mandatory reading section . Questions you didn't even know you had are answered right there .
Before you get all bristly and pissed click on my name and scroll some of my first posts .
See for your self what a dick I could be when I came here and how I got my legs strapped for that .
There's a reason for rules posted here and requests to do required reading .
I'm still paying forward what was freely given to me in advance .
Hope you will take up residence as a neighbor .

Truckinbutch, you sound like you take the rules of this forum very seriously. You should brush up on "the Rules We Live By" if you want to be a forum ranger. Particularly rule number 2 which basically says don't be rude/condescending to people in the forums.

[Stainless]

Hi, tap water would be much better for your wash/mash , depending of course on where you are situated and local water condition. Reverse osmosis or distilled water has all the goodness removed from it and therefore is not ideal for fermentation purposes. '' Anyone want to buy an IBC of good water?'' haha,,, I'm just lucky.
Filter yer local tap water if your not sure about its quality and maybe try a small ferment to see what yer results are.
hth
Will

[Bushman]

Lots of opinions over in that mandatory reading section . Questions you didn't even know you had are answered right there .
Before you get all bristly and pissed click on my name and scroll some of my first posts .
See for your self what a dick I could be when I came here and how I got my legs strapped for that .
There's a reason for rules posted here and requests to do required reading .
I'm still paying forward what was freely given to me in advance .
Hope you will take up residence as a neighbor .

Truckinbutch, you sound like you take the rules of this forum very seriously. You should brush up on "the Rules We Live By" if you want to be a forum ranger. Particularly rule number 2 which basically says don't be rude/condescending to people in the forums.

Let's not get this off topic if you reread Truckinbutch's post you can see he was talking about himself!
And to stay on topic I think water is very important element in the process. I am lucky enough also to live where I have an artisian well that has produced great water for distilling.

[Appalachia-Shiner]

Lots of opinions over in that mandatory reading section . Questions you didn't even know you had are answered right there .
Before you get all bristly and pissed click on my name and scroll some of my first posts .
See for your self what a dick I could be when I came here and how I got my legs strapped for that .
There's a reason for rules posted here and requests to do required reading .
I'm still paying forward what was freely given to me in advance .
Hope you will take up residence as a neighbor .

Truckinbutch, you sound like you take the rules of this forum very seriously. You should brush up on "the Rules We Live By" if you want to be a forum ranger. Particularly rule number 2 which basically says don't be rude/condescending to people in the forums.

Let's not get this off topic if you reread Truckinbutch's post you can see he was talking about himself!
And to stay on topic I think water is very important element in the process. I am lucky enough also to live where I have an artisian well that has produced great water for distilling.

Thank you Bushman.

[PoPo VanWinkle]

Thanks for the replays. Of note: when you do a site search for "water" and similar alliterations , this is what you get

The following words in your search query were ignored because they are too common words: water.
You must specify at least one word to search for. Each word must consist of at least 4 characters and must not contain more than 14 characters excluding wildcards.

I did attempt to check this out before I asked. Not asking anyone to do my homework!

I believe I'll try mineral water on my next ferment ,

[rad14701]

Thanks for the replays. Of note: when you do a site search for "water" and similar alliterations , this is what you get

The following words in your search query were ignored because they are too common words: water.
You must specify at least one word to search for. Each word must consist of at least 4 characters and must not contain more than 14 characters excluding wildcards.

I did attempt to check this out before I asked. Not asking anyone to do my homework!

I believe I'll try mineral water on my next ferment ,

Look in the page header for Forum Google Search and use that instead of the canned site search... There is a forum section at the top of the forum index with hints, etc, that you should already have read... If you haven't done the required research yet, now is a good time to do so... And read ALL of the link in my signature by cranky... Actually, in my signature its called A little spoon feeding for New & Novice Distillers... It will answer your questions and even some that you don't even know you have yet...

Seeing far too many novices in too much of a hurry as of late...

[rgreen2002]

... Of note: when you do a site search for "water" and similar alliterations , this is what you get

Did you use the HD google search located inthe light blue section at the top of the page on the right hand side? I got this: https://www.google.com/search?rls=en-us ... orum+water" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow so About 30,700 results (0.29 seconds)

Check my signature under : BEST WAY TO GET ANSWERS FROM HOME DISTILLER. It will walk you through how to do a proper HD search and your life will get much easier.

Posted with rad

[Truckinbutch]

Lots of opinions over in that mandatory reading section . Questions you didn't even know you had are answered right there .
Before you get all bristly and pissed click on my name and scroll some of my first posts .
See for your self what a dick I could be when I came here and how I got my legs strapped for that .
There's a reason for rules posted here and requests to do required reading .
I'm still paying forward what was freely given to me in advance .
Hope you will take up residence as a neighbor .

Truckinbutch, you sound like you take the rules of this forum very seriously. You should brush up on "the Rules We Live By" if you want to be a forum ranger. Particularly rule number 2 which basically says don't be rude/condescending to people in the forums.

Reading comprehension may be an issue for you . I was only trying to help by offering you a window into my own maturation on this site .
FORUM RANGER Not hardly . This forum has an IGNORE function that works well to put anyone out of my misery .
Only used it once , so far .
Reread what I said and don't make yourself #2 .

[PoPo VanWinkle]

Lets don't start a "shootin war" over my question fellas!
Thanks rgreen2002 and rad14701, in the future, i will use the Forum Google Search function instead of the Search bar in the upper right of the webpage. Learned at least one new thing.
I did say I was a "Newbie" and that I'm trying to read everything on this forum to get better!

[Truckinbutch]

Lets don't start a "shootin war" over my question fellas!
Thanks rgreen2002 and rad14701, in the future, i will use the Forum Google Search function instead of the Search bar in the upper right of the webpage. Learned at least one new thing.
I did say I was a "Newbie" and that I'm trying to read everything on this forum to get better!

You gained because you learned . That's the purpose of us being here . Win/Win situation .
War is unproductive and expensive . None of us here seek it .
Let's reset this and go forward in a more productive manner .

[RockNHamCindy]

What are your thoughts on inline garden hose filters?

Any brand recommendations?

I'd like to think that filling my kettle the night before via an inline garden hose filter, treating with a combination ascorbic acid and campden tablets, will yield water that the yeast will be happy to live in (gypsum to be added as well).

After last year of trying 'this-and-that' kinds of washes and building a 13-15gallon Keg Reflux still - I am getting poised for the return of the warm weather. Setting up for a season of all sugar washes to hone my process and build my ferment knowledge/experience.

Using Wineos Sugar Wash bill, I plan to ferment in a 32-gallon stainless kettle, rack into buckets for settling and then still.

I have loads of questions - I realize many answers will 'come out in the wash'.

Two questions I have now:
-Does anyone have any insight to share re: inline garden hose filters as it pertains to mash-making?

-Would you advise utilizing bentonite in the racked-off wash, in the airlock/buckets, wherein the mash will settle before stilling? (they will not significantly be moved before siphoning into still to avoid any disturbing of sediment -- the goal is to organize my shelves appropriately to facilitate the following order of operation: 1. ferment in kettle, 2. rack off to buckets, 3. siphon to still)

This forum has been an incredible resource and I am so grateful for this community. Keep on the sunny side, y'all. Looking forward to more conversations.

"Where'd you get your whiskey, where'd you get your dram? Where'd you get your whiskey at, way down in Rockingham?"
https://youtu.be/UYCo-vM2lAA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[still_stirrin]

...I'd like to think that filling my kettle the night before via an inline garden hose filter, treating with a combination ascorbic acid and campden tablets, will yield water that the yeast will be happy to live in (gypsum to be added as well).

Two questions I have now:
-Does anyone have any insight to share re: inline garden hose filters as it pertains to mash-making?

You can if you want. But you probably don't need to. Rather, fill your kettle with water and boil it for 15 minutes (the night before brewing). Cover it up for night and let it cool naturally. In the morning the water will be ready to brew with.

Don't add Campden tablets EVER. It will add sulfur to your wash/mash and that is not good for running through the still. Adding ascoebic acid lowers the pH. You probably don't need that either unless your water is above 7.0pH (basic). Chances are city water is 7.0 or lower.

-Would you advise utilizing bentonite in the racked-off wash, in the airlock/buckets, wherein the mash will settle before stilling? (they will not significantly be moved before siphoning into still to avoid any disturbing of sediment -- the goal is to organize my shelves appropriately to facilitate the following order of operation: 1. ferment in kettle, 2. rack off to buckets, 3. siphon to still)

Nope, I would not recommend bentonite...its a dessicant. I don't think it would be necessary to help clear a wash to fill the still.
ss

[RockNHamCindy]

Thank you, SS - much, much appreciated.

How about any insight on cooling the water within your reservoir/heat exchange?

I use a relatively short liebig and I have a heat exchange problem.

I feel confident that this has to have been discussed elsewhere in the forum but I can't find exactly what I need.

I'm considering building an A/C unit or copper coil heat sink -- basically a coil attached to a fan with a stronger pump moving water through it than the rate of water going through the liebig. Have you heard of folks having success with this?

Seems like this would be a common problem for those of us in warmer climates without access to running stream of cool water.

Thank you for your insight and/or point me toward the thread wherein this may be discussed at-length.

[still_stirrin]

How about any insight on cooling the water within your reservoir/heat exchange? I use a relatively short liebig and I have a heat exchange problem.

Best answer...if your Liebig is undersized for you heat source (I'm assuming you use a propane burner)...build a bigger Liebig and make it more efficient. There are lots of builds in the Condensers/Cooling Methods forum. Look there.

I feel confident that this has to have been discussed elsewhere in the forum but I can't find exactly what I need.

My best advice here is to learn how to use the HDGoogle search engine. There is a link in my signature...go there and read how. Also, there is a link to Cranky's Spoon Feed thread too....tons and tons of valuable data there. Go read a while...it'll answer your questions and some you haven't even thought of yet.

I'm considering building an A/C unit or copper coil heat sink -- basically a coil attached to a fan with a stronger pump moving water through it than the rate of water going through the liebig. Have you heard of folks having success with this? ...

Not advised to use an A/C unit, or refrigerator, or freezer to cool your water. They typically can't handle the heat load of your boiler. Rather, get a larger water reservoir. And be prepared to drain and refill the reservoir when the water heats up. You have to recover the heat of the boiler somehow, and that can be a lot of BTU's.

Again, followup reading assignments will make this much more apparent as you learn.
ss

[RockNHamCindy]

SS,

I hear ya. I endeavor to ask pointed questions after having exhausted my ability to research.

https://moonshinedistiller.com/dual-pur ... ll-tower-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

This is the tower I have.

I've moved to a 55 gallon reservoir -- tried a number of different setups, from replacing ice, to running well-water -- even considered buying a deep-freezer and sinking a glycol reservoir in the freezer and pumping it through the condenser.

In preparation for the spring months, I am considering moving to an electric heating element -- would this help the problem? hurt the problem? or be no difference?

I've found the propane burners (bayou, in particular) to be inefficient and tough to control.

Thank you for you on-going discussion and insight.

Cheers.

[F350R]

Rock I have the same tower although mine is a 3 inch I run mine with no problems on a garden hose with separate reflux / product take off. It makes a big difference to separate the two with a fine needle valve on the reflux side for fine control. I don't have any problems with it keeping up on either reflux or put still mode.

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